Official Obama Portrait Released

AOL / Wire Services ^ | 15 Jan 09

[PurpleMan]

The Office of the President-Elect today released the new official portrait for Barack Obama, who will take the oath of office on Tuesday. New White House photographer Pete Souza captured the image on a digital camera, a first for an official presidential portrait.

[PurpleMan]

I'm sure others will have "other" things to say,but from a artistic portrait standpoint, this is horrible.

The flags are out of focus, it looks like any old office wall, the tie isn't pulled up, it's not tied tight, and he faces in such a way that he looks...well...like ET.

Lookiin' at that for 4 years will be painful.

[SunStar]

Without bringing any politics into it, I think the portrait looks great and stands up to the level of quality expected in Presidential portraits.

[Puppage]

Well, they certainly caught his likeness

[Dallas59]

Why is he wearing an American Flag pin? Disgraceful.

[Yaelle]

He looks fine. Are the Presidents supposed to be off center like that? The background looks weird.

[F15Eagle]

[TheZMan]

“I’m watching you.”

[SunStar]

[ElayneJ]

He’s wearing a flag pin.

[icwhatudo]

This is not a photoshop--whats the deal with that circle around his mouth?

hmmmm

LOL

[Puppage]

Are the Presidents supposed to be off center like that?

He's off to the right, too.

[ElayneJ]

oh, and he’s leaning - to the left.

[Katarina]

I agree, the Flags are all blurry, that is beyond disgusting. It is like they are being treated as an after thought. Also the shadows on his face are not good.

I could care less about this jerk, except for anger I feel but like you said just looking at it as a photo image an nothing more it is horrible. I bet a kid could take a better photo of Obama that what we see here.

[ex91B10]

Without bringing any politics into it,...

I agree but I'm still really frightened...

[Vroomfondel]

He's off to the right, too.

That's his left.

[Allegra]

Is it just me or does Bush look kind of blurry?

[Jackson57]

As a photographer, I’d be ashamed to present something like that as an “official” portrait.

[Puppage]

That's his left.

Good point. LOL

[Michael Barnes]

Not from his point of view...

[mockingbyrd]

I don’t like the background either. If they had more of the flag in it, to add more color, I think it would have been better.

[Iron Munro]

"Well, they certainly caught his likeness"

[library user]

[Girlene]

It seems it was shot with a digital camera. Obama's official pic first to be shot on digicam

The photograph was shot by Pete Souza -- the newly-announced official White House photographer -- using a digital camera. This is the first time a digital camera has been used to take an official presidential portrait.

[sunny48]

Is he leaning away from the flag?

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“whats the deal with that circle around his mouth?” Both my gal, who studies Chinese medicine very seriously, and my Chinese herbal Doc say that that circle around the mouth is indicative of major heart problems. I thought that observation was somewhat interesting!

[library user]

[F15Eagle]

Well, if he divides Israel, this will a more accurate photo (Daniel 11:37-39, Daniel 8:25, Joel 3:1-2)

[weegee]

I see he found a flag pin.

[livius]

Good job! This photo cries out for Photoshopping!

[HomersNose]

He’s tight lipped....and there’s something behind those eyes that’s a little disarming.

[andy58-in-nh]

Frankly, I think it would look better on black velvet.

[b4its2late]

Dork.

[SunStar]

I agree but I'm still really frightened...

Pull yourself together, man! ;)

[dforest]

They need to retouch the blue lips. Not fitting for a messiah.

Who took the horns out of the photo?

[Sacajaweau]

I've noticed that circle in other pictures.

What's that other image behind the American flag??

[Hoffer Rand]

Somebody already has Photoshopped the ears...

[ex91B10]

For some reason, as I read your post I had a mental pic of R Lee Ermey pointing a finger at me...!!!

Laughed my butt off!

Thanks.

[ZULU]

“.and he faces in such a way that he looks...well...like ET”

He always does.

Say, you don’t think....

Maybe THAT is why he doesn’t produce a birth certificate.

[i_dont_chat]

What is the other flag, behind him?

[5thGenTexan]

Some thoughts of my own, mostly ;^) not political.

1. It is not close-up enough. A portrait should not have this much background.

2. The flags are cluttered. I don't feel the Presidential Seal flag should be there. I think this is part of the Office of the Presedent-Elect syndrome. The US flag should be more open.

3. He appears to be leaning away. He should be leaning in.

Caveat: I am not a photographer, but my ex-wife's father is...

[spodefly]

Great photo. I hope Obama lives up to the highest ideals set for the office.

But I’m not holding my breath.

[TaraP]

Jesus said very plainly “Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming – in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning – Lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: watch!” Israel being gathered from among the nations, and made a nation once again Travel and knowledge will be greatly increased Global real-time communications will become a reality World-wide falling away from the church, and at the same time an outpouring of the Holy Spirit A developing one-world political and economic system, to be headed by a world ruler (the anti-christ) Rebuilding of the Jewish Temple (destroyed since 70 A.D.) Finally - people scoffing at the notion of end times, saying "where is the promise of His coming? (2 Peter 3:3-4)

[BunnySlippers]

Is it normal to already have an official portrait before taking the oath of office? I thought that came at the end of the term ... like W’s.

[Churchillspirit]

Thanks for taking away the nasty taste.

[Girlene]

What is the other flag, behind him?

It's the flag of the Office of the President.

[Churchillspirit]

Good one! LOL

[Churchillspirit]

Dork

???

[sportutegrl]

Coulda just used his driver’s license pix.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

I want a do-over. It is awful. I don’t like it. His expression is all wrong and he’s off-center (okay, no jokes, please). It’s terrible. DO-OVER!

[Churchillspirit]

I think an offical portrait in necessary to hang in all government buildings during the President's term.